PREVIEW
Fluid Focus: Mexican GP
Welcome to the PETRONAS Preview for the Mexican GP in Mexico City, providing an insight
into the technical challenges at Round 17 of the 2015 Formula One World Championship, with
a particular focus on fluids. The Mexican Grand Prix is returning to the F1 calendar for the first
time in 23 years and so there is no meaningful, historical data. Instead, this Preview focuses on
how MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS has prepared for this Grand Prix, with particular focus on its
simulator and dynamometer work.
The defining feature of Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez is the high altitude that Mexico City sits at;
a massive 2285m above sea level. By comparison, Sau Paulo is at 750m. This means that air density
in Mexico City is extremely low, which has a significant impact. The advanced cooling capabilities
of our PETRONAS Fluid Technology SolutionsTM will counter this challenge.
Key Corner
Top Speed
(with DRS
open) 360km/h
4.305km
Track
length
The second shortest
circuit of the season.
75km/h
2
255km/h
80km/h
4
8
Anticipated gear
145km/h
E2
330km/h
TOP SPEED
5
185km/h
5
190km/h
105km/h
8
4
320km/h
125km/h
155km/h
6
3
2
6
3
220km/h
110km/h
1
85km/h
3
95km/h
LAPS
71
65km/h
MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS’s
simulations predict that Fuel
Consumption will be rated as Low,
this is due in part to the
2nd shortest lap length of
2015. Fuel Consumption
is therefore unlikely to be
challenging for the race.
Fuel Consumption = Low
LOW
MEDIUM
HIGH
DRS
DETECTION
Cooling Performance
Ambient temperature
is predicted to be
between 19c & 22c.
The low air density in
Mexico City makes
cooling extremely tough. Average
Cooling Performance = ambient
High.
temp
LOW
3
MEDIUM
HIGH
85km/h
DRS ZONE 1
8
Fuel Consumption
AUTÓDROMO HERMANOS
RODRIGUEZ
70km/h
SZ
ON
The Start/Finish
straight is 1.2km long,
requiring 14 seconds
of full throttle. The low
air density at altitude
means there is much
lower drag on the car;
so we can expect the
highest top speeds of
the season, even with
standard wing levels.
These factors will make
Turn One a prime
overtaking spot.
2
1
Turn One
DR
Mexican Grand Prix, MEXICO CITY | 30 October - 01 November 2015
PETRONAS
360km/h
TOP SPEED
52
Simulations of Autodrome
Hermanos Rodriguez estimate
52 gear changes per lap,
Fluid Stress = Medium-High
Fluid Performance
LOW
MEDIUM
HIGH
“The altitude of Mexico City is going to present some very
unique challenges this weekend. Particularly within the
Power Unit, where the Turbo will be working overtime
due to the thin air, this will create additional heat.
Safety Car probability
can only be predicted
from historical data.
Without this, engineers will
consider circuit characteristics,
such as the close proximity of
the walls, when reviewing the
likelihood of intervention.
Fuel Consumption Impact
LOW
MEDIUM
HIGH
Fluid Performance
ERS Braking Energy
is estimated to be
Medium-High, with
three significant
Braking Events per lap.
ERS BRAKING ENERGY:
LOW
MEDIUM
Three-time Formula 1 World Champion!
Congratulations to our Technical Performance
Consultant and MERCEDES AMG
PETRONAS Driver,
Lewis Hamilton.
The low air density also reduces natural cooling
capabilities, so our PETRONAS Fluid Technology
Solutions™, especially PETRONAS Syntium with
°CoolTech™ engine oil, will be crucial in transferring
excessive heat away from key components of the
Power Units.”
Dr. Andy Holmes
Director, Research & Technology, PETRONAS Lubricants International
www.petronas.com.my
www.petmos.com.my
@PET_motorsports
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HIGH
With no historical data available for
MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS to work
from for the Mexican Grand Prix, the
Team’s Chief Race Engineer, Andrew
Shovlin, gave some insight into the
challenges identified this weekend:
Mexico City’s altitude
results in reduced
cooling. This means that
PETRONAS Syntium
with °CoolTech™ engine oil will need to
dissipate high levels of heat away from
key components, in order for them to run
“Without the benefit of historical data,
reliably and achieve optimum performance.
preparations for the Mexican Grand Prix
The dyno cells at Mercedes AMG HPP have
have been especially thorough; although the the capacity to run at managed atmospheric
process is actually quite similar to how we
pressures and extensive Power Unit (PU)
prepare for circuits we visit regularly.
testing has taken place at the simulated
altitude of Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
We use the simulator to familiarise the
drivers with the circuit layout, so they’re
PETRONAS have also
up-to-speed before arriving in Mexico.
contributed extensively
From a PETRONAS and engineering point
with the mapping of fuels
of view, it’s about understanding what are
and lubricants in the build-up to the race, to
likely to be the stand out features
ensure all aspects of the PU are optimised
and challenges of the track.
for the conditions; from combustion
mapping in the rarefied atmosphere, to
the cooling of key hybrid systems with
PETRONAS Tutela.
thinner air
20%
than at sea level
The reduced air density
will also have an
impact on Power Unit
performance. The compressor in the PU
One of the significant aspects of the
will be working far harder than usual, in
Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez is the
thin air. Mexico City sits at very high altitude order to get the air density to the required
level for the Turbocharger to work at its
(2,280m), which means that the
air is up to 20% less dense than at sea level. optimum. This can impact PETRONAS
PRIMAX fuel consumption, although due
This impacts the cars in several ways.
to the short-lap and an estimated average
lap speed of 194km/h, fuel usage isn’t
expected to be an issue.
Ben Nevis
Highest
Mountain in
Britain (1,344m)
The Mexican circuit requires a highdownforce set-up. But even though
we’ll be running big wings on the car,
the top speed in Mexico is expected
to be the fastest recorded all season.
This is due to reduced aerodynamic
drag from the thinner air. Expect to
see speeds reaching up to 360km/h
(220mp/h) on the 1.2km Start/
Finish straight, when the cars are in
qualifying trim with DRS open.
Top speeds
reaching up
to 360km/h
(220mp/h)
So Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez
is an extreme circuit, due to the
unique issues that the altitude and
air density present. These will be
the biggest challenges that
PETRONAS Fluid Technology
Solutions™ will be helping us to
overcome this weekend.”
1.2KM START/FINISH STRAIGHT
Mexican Grand Prix, MEXICO CITY | 30 October - 01 November 2015
Technical Insight – Preparation for a new Grand Prix Circuit
Mexico City
(2,285m)
Mount
Kinabalu
(Highest Mountain
in Malaysia) (4,095m)
To watch the full Mexican GP PETRONAS Preview video with
Andrew Shovlin please visit: YouTube.com/PETRONASMotorsports
Andrew Shovlin,
Chief Race Engineer,
MERCEDES AMG
PETRONAS Formula
One Team
Lewis
Hamilton
Mexican GP 2014:
N/A
Mexican GP 2014:
N/A
Last time out
(US GP): 1st
Last time out
(US GP): 2nd
Championship
Standing 2015:
1st (327 points)
Nico
Rosberg
Championship
Standing 2015:
3rd (247 points)
Track schedule
Session
Practice 1
Practice 2
Practice 3
Qualifying
Race
Local Time (CST)
10:00–11:30
14:00–15:30
10:00–11:00
13:00–14:00
13:00–15:00
www.petronas.com.my
www.petmos.com.my
@PET_motorsports
GMT/UTC
16:00-17:30
20:00-21:30
16:00-17:00
19:00-20:00
19:00-21:00
MYT (Malaysia)
00:00-01:30 (+1 Day)
04:00-05:30 (+1 Day)
00:00-01:00 (+1 Day)
03:00-04:00 (+1 Day) 03:00-05:00 (+1 Day)
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